By: Rebecca Ekpe
Ghana’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame is expected to share the State of Human Rights in Ghana at the United Nations, in Geneva Switzerland under the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism.
He would be expected to speak on the implementation of recommendations from the previous review in 2017.
Member States will ask Ghana questions about its human rights record and then make recommendations to Ghana to undertake policies to ensure the promotion, respect, and fulfillment of human rights in Ghana.
The presentation would be at 2:30pm GMT local time.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a periodic review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States. The UPR is a significant innovation of the Human Rights Council which is based on equal treatment for all countries.
According to Wiilliam Nyarko, the Executive Director of the Africa Centre for International Law & Accountability (ACILA), the importance of this review cannot be understated. Among other things, ”it drives legal-policy for the improvement of human rights in the countries of each Member State as the human rights situation in each country is reviewed”.
Furthermore, ”Cross-cutting issues on human rights ranging from media freedom; women’s rights; rights of vulnerable groups and persons with disabilities; passage of the Right to Information Bill into law and its implementation; creation of the Office of the Special Prosecutor; the abolition of the Death Penalty to Ghana’s adherence to international law through its ratification of treaties etc will be raised”.
Interestingly, questions on thematic human rights issues are sent ahead (see some below) or are asked after Ghana presents its report.
Reports indicate that some influential CSOs in Ghana provide input and are represented.
Among them are the Center for Democratic Development, CDD-Ghana and POS Foundation.
Below are some of the questions from some concerned people.
GERMANY
• What steps is Ghana undertaking or will Ghana undertake in order to safeguard the principle of human rights for all in Ghana?
• What measures is Ghana taking in order to protect the freedom of press and journalists?
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PANAMA
• In paragraph 30 of its national report, Ghana states that an amendment of the 1992 Constitution and the Criminal and Other Offenses Act, 1960 (Act 29), is required to abolish the death penalty and in this regard the Parliament has initiated the necessary process per a Private Member’s Bill aimed at its abolition. Could Ghana please provide information on the state of play of this bill?
UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
• How is the Government addressing discrimination against LGBT+ people – ensuring robust investigations into incidents, bringing perpetrators to justice, and ensuring support to victims?
Women Human Rights Defenders:
During Sessions such as this when Ghana’s Human Rights connects with the global community, the work of Human Rights Defenders come into the forefront.
According to the Executive Director of Gender Centre for Empowering Development (GenCED), Esther Tawiah, human rights defenders everywhere, especially women, should be able to freely and safely execute their functions without any restrictions.
“Women who are Human Rights Defenders are raising their voices frequently at great personal risk to stand up against all forms of violence and conflict. It is therefore necessary for National Human Rights Institutions, CSOs and all human rights defenders to collaborate to enhance their protection globally”.
It is hoped that Ghana would continue to work collectively to uphold and make Human Rights the center of the very essence of all persons domicile in Ghana.
